Grants fund projects that will increase the competitiveness of Minnesota grown specialty crops in domestic and foreign markets. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) defines specialty crops as fruits and vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, horticulture and nursery crops, floriculture, and processed products that have 50 percent or more specialty crop content. A comprehensive list of eligible specialty crops is available on the USDA's web site.
Applicant Eligibility
The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) encourages the following groups to apply:
- non-profit organizations
- producer organizations
- government agencies
- universities
- other agricultural groups
For-profit entities, farms, and other businesses who want to develop sector-wide research and development projects are also eligible.
Project Eligibility
Projects must solely enhance the competitiveness of a Minnesota specialty crop as defined by the USDA. This program cannot fund starting a business or expanding a farm. Each project must demonstrate external support from specialty crop stakeholders and produce measurable outcomes for the specialty crop industry and/or public beneficiaries. Projects that address problems or opportunities that cross state boundaries are eligible.
Specialty Crop Block Grant funding priorities for Federal Fiscal Year 2019 are:
- Improve distribution systems of specialty crops, such as reducing costs, removing barriers, or creating new systems
- Provide technical assistance to growers and value-added producers focused on creating and sustaining profitable businesses
- Increase child and adult nutrition knowledge and consumption of specialty crops
- Focus on pest or disease control
- Develop new or improved seed or plant varieties
- Conduct research focusing on sustainability, conservation or environmental outcomes
- Improve capacity to comply with the requirements of the Food Safety Modernization Act
Projects that benefit beginning or socially disadvantaged farmers receive bonus points. See the Request for Proposals (RFP) for more information.
Specialty Crop Block Grant funding priorities are determined prior to developing each year’s RFP. Send comments and suggestions for next year's RFP to program coordinator Ann Kuzj.
FFY2019 MDA SCBG Program Timeline
|
RFP released |
December 2018 |
|
Applications due to the MDA |
4:00 pm CST on March 7, 2019 |
|
Grant Review Process |
About six weeks |
|
MDA notifies conditionally approved applicants |
April 2019 |
|
MDA submits state plan to USDA |
May 2019 |
|
USDA approval (anticipated) |
September 2019 |
|
MDA issues approval letters to successful applicants and initiates contracting |
October 2019 |
|
Project work can start (anticipated) |
November 1, 2019 |
|
Project end date |
April 30, 2022 |
| Latest project end date upon request | September 29, 2022 |
Amounts Available
The MDA sub-awards the bulk of our USDA block grant, about $1 million, through a competitive review process. We will award grants of $10,000 to $100,000 for projects that can last up to two-and-a-half years.
Applying
The next RFP will be released in December 2018. However, you can read last year's RFP to get general grant information, application instructions and requirements, grant award process and reporting requirements, and scoring criteria/evaluation profile. You can apply online when the round is open. If you need the application in an alternative format, contact the program administrator.